Regional Briefs 7/11/2014

KINGSLEY — A tornado took a run through Susquehanna County Tuesday night, tearing out trees and swatting down power lines, according to the National Weather Service.

No injuries or fatalities were reported in Kingsley, where the storm hit around 7:05 p.m., said meteorologist Joanne LaBounty, but some buildings were damaged from falling trees.

The twister, which had estimated wind speeds of 90 mph, was an F1, the second-weakest on the F0-5 scale, which is based on estimated wind speed.

The tornado had a width of 150 yards and cut a 1.4-mile path on the ground.

— PETER CAMERON

Gas sparked fire at compressor station

LENOX TWP. — Gas ignited in an exterior vent stack of a Williams Partners LP compressor station Thursday morning, causing a fire in the facility.

According to Williams spokesman Michael Atchie, the fire occurred at the Zick Compressor Station at about 9 a.m. No injuries were reported.

“The company was conducting standard procedures at the facility when the gas ignited. The fire was contained to the exterior vent stack and self-extinguished,” Mr. Atchie said. “First responders did respond but were not needed to extinguish the fire.”

Colleen Connelly of the Department of Environmental Protection said the agency was notified at about 9:30 a.m. As of early Thursday afternoon, Ms. Connelly said, the compressor station was shut down and DEP was waiting for a report as to the status of the fire and how it started.

Williams expected to have the station returning to partial operation on Thursday, according to Mr. Atchie.

— STACI WILSON

Man convicted

on forgery counts

HONESDALE — A Wayne County jury convicted a man of forging a prescription for pain pills, the district attorney announced Thursday.

Jon C. Clark, 54, faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Mr. Clark tried to pass the forged prescription at a local pharmacy, officials said.

— PETER CAMERON

Man sentenced

for bank, tax fraud

SCRANTON — A federal judge sentenced a Monroe County man Thursday to 70 months in prison for bank and tax fraud.

Brian Hewson, 39, of Canadensis, was also ordered to pay $379,000 in restitution.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2013.

Mr. Hewson formerly operated Hewson Contracting, and it was there he participated in a scheme to defraud customers and pass counterfeit checks amounting to $150,000, prosecutors said.

The tax fraud charge stems from the fact that Mr. Hewson did not declare the income from his crimes on his tax return.

Eudy Gonzalez, 24, admitted to his part in the drug ring from November 2013 to January 2014 and is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million. Mr. Gonzales is a prisoner at State Correctional Institution at Waymart.

His co-defendant, Linda Reyes, has already pleaded guilty and is also awaiting sentencing.

— PETER CAMERON

Wayne County historian named

HONESDALE — Wayne County has a new historian.

The county commissioners appointed Peter W. Becker at their meeting Thursday.

He replaces Richard Eldred, who died earlier this year.

Mr. Becker has been the managing editor at The News Eagle in Hawley since 2010.

The money, distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will be used to buy a personal alert safety system, which signals if a firefighter is in distress, has specialized ropes to allow safe jumps from windows and has 12 self-contained breathing apparatuses.

The Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company in Lehigh Twp., Wayne County, received $24,225 for 10 units of protective clothing.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company was in Coolbaugh Twp.. In fact, they are in Lehigh Twp., Wayne County.

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